#TheBallMethod
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Alice Augusta Ball photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons Alice Augusta Ball (1892-1916) was a groundbreaking scientist whose contributions went largely unrecognized during her lifetime. The first woman and Black person to earn a master's degree in chemistry from the College of Hawaii, Ball worked with Hawai'i health officials to solve the chemical challenges of developing an effective injectable extract of chaulmoogra tree oil for leprosy treatment. Her process, recognized as the Ball Method, remained the primary global treatment until sulfone drugs emerged decades later. A trusted colleague's contemporaneous record of her work ensured her legacy, enabling many to posthumously honor the achievements of this remarkable chemist.
March 18, 2026 at 1:40 PM